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Middlebrooks' first MLB home run is grand

Middlebrooks' first MLB home run is grand

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BOSTON -- The baseball soared off his bat and not only cleared the Green Monster, but it landed in the parking loss across the street. Will Middlebrooks struck his first Major League home run on Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park, and it was a grand slam.

Not only that, but his fifth-inning missile was a game-tying grand slam, serving as a memorable highlight in Boston's 9-6, 17-inning loss to the Orioles.

Middlebrooks, Boston's top position prospect, is manning third base while Kevin Youkilis heals his ailing back.

"It was probably the biggest rush of my life, to be honest," said Middlebrooks. "It was a grand slam and it tied the game up, which was huge."

And yes, somehow the baseball Middlebrooks drilled was tracked down by a dutiful Red Sox employee.

"A security guard got it for me in the parking lot. It's something I can put on the mantel for sure," Middlebrooks said.

There was only one blemish on the day for Middlebrooks. In the bottom of the 11th, with two outs, he smoked one down the left-field line. The ball caromed off the wall, but Middlebrooks was left with a single.

"That ball comes back in this ballpark," said Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine. "It kind of starts foul and then gets blown back. He'll run next time. That's for sure. He was very surprised that ball came back. After you see it once or twice, you're not surprised anymore. It starts foul and comes back here."